Lopburi Cable Thief Arrested With Meth After 900-Meter Heist
Lopburi police arrested a 31-year-old man for stealing over 900 meters of municipal power cables from city streets on two occasions in late October and early November. The suspect, Kritsada, sold the copper wiring to a scrap dealer in neighboring Sing Buri province to fund his methamphetamine habit. He was caught during a stakeout on November 7 with 118 meth pills and burglary tools in his vehicle, and now faces charges of nighttime theft using a vehicle and drug possession.
On November 9, 2026, Lopburi Mayor Jamroen Sala-clip disclosed the arrest of a cable thief who targeted power lines along city streets. The arrest took place during a meeting of department heads at the Lopburi Municipal Office, where police presented the suspect along with seized cables.
The mayor explained that on November 3, reports came in about a thief cutting overhead electrical cables on Narai Maharat Road, from Sri Suriyothai Roundabout to San Phra Kan Roundabout, on two separate occasions. The thefts caused public inconvenience and travel hazards. Officials filed a report at Lopburi City Police Station and inspected the damage, discovering that the main cable system had been severed and removed from conduits for over 900 meters. Repairs were completed to restore normal service.
Police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Ranrong Surat then ordered investigators and patrol officers to track down the perpetrator, believing the thief would return. CCTV footage showed the suspect cutting cables, gathering them, and loading them into a parked vehicle. Police conducted surveillance for several days until the early hours of Saturday, November 7, when they spotted a suspicious red Toyota Vios with Sing Buri plates parked opposite Pibul Witthayalai School. The driver was absent, likely hiding nearby after cutting cables. Officers staked out the vehicle for hours until the suspect returned.
Investigators identified themselves and searched the car, finding 118 methamphetamine pills and various tools used in the crimes. The suspect was identified as 31-year-old Kritsada, nicknamed "Gak." Confronted with evidence, he confessed.
Investigation revealed the first theft occurred on October 28, with cables sold to a scrap shop in Sing Buri for over 5,000 baht. The second theft on November 3 netted over 3,000 baht at the same shop. Emboldened, he returned for a third attempt but was caught. The suspect admitted to stealing Lopburi municipal cables and intending to steal more that night. Police charged him with nighttime theft using a vehicle and illegal drug possession, transferring him to Lopburi City Police investigators for prosecution.
